Transpose Memory System Parallel Clocking Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face high latency and power consumption issues when performing transposition operations, particularly in applications requiring real-time signal processing, due to the need for repeated reading and writing in RAM-based cache memory, which also leads to architectural challenges like processing pipeline bubbles.
Innovation Solution
A transpose memory system is introduced that uses parallel sequential logic circuits clocked by directly time-adjacent clock edges to efficiently transpose data from row-major to column-major order, eliminating the need for a multiplexer circuit and reducing on-chip real estate and latency, thereby enhancing data throughput and frequency operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If RAM-based cache memory is used for transposition operations, then data storage capacity is improved, but latency increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is segmented into multiple banks (first bank, second bank, third bank) that can operate independently and simultaneously. Each bank handles specific data words, allowing parallel transposition operations without requiring repeated read-write cycles in a single RAM cache, thereby reducing latency while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension RAM-based cache approach to a multi-dimensional banked memory architecture with separate read and write paths. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous read and write operations in different banks, eliminating the sequential read-write bottleneck of traditional RAM caching and reducing transposition latency.
2Quantity of substance
If RAM-based cache memory is used for transposition operations, then data storage capacity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is segmented into multiple banks (first bank, second bank, third bank) that can operate independently and simultaneously. Each bank handles specific data words, allowing parallel transposition operations without requiring repeated read-write cycles in a single RAM cache, thereby reducing latency while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension RAM-based cache approach to a multi-dimensional banked memory architecture with separate read and write paths. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous read and write operations in different banks, eliminating the sequential read-write bottleneck of traditional RAM caching and reducing transposition latency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiplexer circuit is used in transpose memory system, then data routing flexibility is improved, but on-chip area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the multiplexer circuit from the transpose memory system. Instead of using a multiplexer to route data, the design employs dedicated read and write banks with direct connectivity, achieving the necessary data routing flexibility through architectural separation rather than complex switching logic, thereby reducing on-chip area.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory banks are designed to serve multiple functions: the first bank handles read operations, the second bank handles write operations, and the third bank provides additional storage capacity. This multi-functional bank architecture replaces the need for a universal multiplexer, achieving routing flexibility through specialized dedicated paths for each operation type.
4Reliability
If sequential logic circuits are clocked with non-adjacent clock edges, then setup time is improved, but data throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic clocking with directly time-adjacent clock edges for sequential logic circuits in the memory banks. By synchronizing operations to consecutive clock cycles, the system achieves both reliable setup time margins and maximum data throughput, as each clock edge immediately follows the previous one, enabling continuous data flow without idle cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory system maintains continuous useful action by using directly time-adjacent clock edges to drive sequential logic circuits. This continuous clocking ensures that read, write, and data transfer operations proceed without interruption or idle cycles, maximizing throughput while maintaining reliable setup and hold times through proper timing synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method operating a memory system, can be provided by reading a plurality of data words from a memory system, where each of the plurality of data words is stored in the memory system in a first dimension-major order. The plurality of data words can be shifted into a transpose memory system in the first dimension in parallel with one another using first directly time adjacent clock edges to store a plurality of transposed data words in a second dimension-major order in the transpose memory system relative to the memory system. The plurality of transposed data words can be shifted out of the transpose memory system in the second dimension using second directly time adjacent clock edges.